Signal apparatus.



W B LANBP SIGNAL APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JULY 25, 1906.

PATENTED JAN. 1, 1907.

t 3 SHEETS-SHEBT 1.

No. 840,135. PATENTED JAN. 1, 1907.

W B. LANE.

SIGNAL APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JULY 25, 1906.

3 SHBETSSHEBT 2.

PATIENT-ED JAN. 1, 1907. w B f-LANE SIGNAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

f fzmswzn' li rz'z fdrzlazze,

UNITED STATES PATENT 1 OFFICE.

W BRITTON LANE, EVANSTON," ILLINOIS.

SIGNAL APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 1, 1907.

Application filed July 25, 1906. Serial roiazm v.

-signaling apparatus adapted to operate accurate train-carried signals.

My primary object is to provide improved apparatus of the characterindicated ossessing great certainty" of action and ca culated to give tothe engineer in charge of a train knowledge-as to the condition ofthetrack.

The invention is illustrated in its referred embodiment in theaccompanying rawings,

in which- Figure '1 represents diagrammatically my improved apparatus asapplied to a track demy improved app signed for train movement in onedirection only. Fig. 2 represents diagrammatically aratus as appliedtrack designed for train movement in both directions, and Fig. 3 is atransverse sectional view showing details of theapparatus as arranged inFig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1 rails, the formerof which is electrically dividedinto sections, the block-junctions being marked A B C. Four blocks areshown, numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4. The direcarrow. Connected with thetrack-rails'near the advance end of each block is a battery D, in whosecircuit is' a low-resistance electromagnet D. Connected with the.trackrails near the rear end of each block is a highresistanceelectromagnet E. Located be tween the track-rails is a rail composed ofelectrically-insulated sections F F F F,

corresponding in location with the sections of the track rail a. tinuoustrack-rail a and the block-rail F, near the advance end of each block,is alocal a a, represent track is indicated by the.

Connected with the contrain-controlling battery G, whose circuitisequipped with a pole-changer G. The polechanger of each block iscontrolled by an armature H, whichis controlled by the highresistanceand low-resistance electromagnets E and D of the advance block. -Eachbatte'ry G-and its conductors and the rails con:

nected therewith constitute a local partial circuit adapted to be closedby a train-carried 1 partial circuit controlling the signals mounted onthe train, preferably on the locomotive. K K represent train-carriedsignal mechanismsmounted on locomotives Kh-Each train-carried mechanismcomprises a battery is, having a circuit connected with clear and dangerlights 7c W, a polarized armature k controlling the circuit of thebattery k and electromagnets k connected by conductors 7c kT with-thetrack-rail a, and the block-rail F. Each pole-changer G is provided withswinging contact members g, coacting with stationary .contact members g,connected with the circuit of the battery G. The contact members g areso spaced that the swinging contact members 9 may assume a neutralposition'between them, owing to the action of aspring g when-both thehigh. resistance and low-resistance\electromagnets controlling thearmature H are deen'ergized. The armatureslc are also springcontrolled,so that they will assume a neutral position gized.

Fig. 1 shows the condition when a train is in block 2 and'another trainis'in block 3 and block 1 is clearl Under such circumstances thehigh-resistance ma net E, connected with the block 1, contrris thepole-changer G of the block -2,-and current from the battery G passes tothe rails a and F of the block 2 and thence through the conductors k kin a direction to influence the polarized armature le of the mechanismK, so as to i give a clear signal through the medium of the light It. Itshould be understood that the battery D- of block 1 energizes both theelectromagnet D and the electromagnet E of the same block, but that. thehigh-resistance magnet prevails. "Inblock 2, however, a short circuitacross the track-rails is established by the train, practicallydeenergizing the high-resistance magnet .of block 2 and allowing thelow-resistance ma net of block 2 to operate the pole-changer of block3.The result is that the current from battery G- ofblock 3 passes in suchdirection to the the polarity of the magnets is k of the mechanism K,thereby causing the armature 7c? of said mechanism to move and close thecircuit of the danger-Si nal 7c of said mechanism. 'The position of t 1epole-changer of block 4 is the same as the position of-the pole-changerof block 3. so that were'a train to approach block 3Ifromthe'iear-thereof a ,danger-signa would be receivedfthrougn'. itstrain-carried when the electromagnets it k are deenertrack-rail a andthe block-rail F as to change 1 signal mechanism. Were a track-battery Dto fail, the result Would-be to denergize the v I track-magnets of thesame block, thereby.

allowing the swinging contact members 9 of the corresponding pole-chaner G to assume the neutral position under t e action of the spring withwhich the pole-changer is provided, so that the local partial circuitwould not be energized. Conse uently a train enmature The same resultwould follow in the event of. G on its connections.

"In any event tering the succeeding bloc would fail; to receive aositive signal, inasmuch as the arl of its mechanism would assume theneutral position, owing to the failure-of a su of current through themagnets k "that the track equipment for one block had failed.

In'the construction illustrated in Fig. 2 certain of the parts areduplicates of the parts already described and are indicated by the samereference characters. To rovide, however, for the giving of the signa ofthe train, an additional block-rail L is provided adjacent to theblock-rail F, and the- "rail L is electrically divided into sections L LL L, corresponding with the sections of the rail F.. One end of eachsection of'the rail L'is joined by a that is, different ends ofalternate sections of the rails L and F are joined together. Assumingnow that trains are approaching each other in blocks 1 and 2, as shownin ig. 2,

' the magnet E of block lwill be short-circuitthe battery G of blockpole-changer G "edby the train in block 1, thereby setting the of block1 in position togive ilgnal to the Zpproaching train in a dangerhemagnet block 2.

cut out by the train in said block, and the "b'attery G of block 3 willbe soconnected with the rails a, and F as to give a danger-signal toanytrain mechanism receiving the current. As the rail 0/ is continuous andthe section of the rail E which receives the current from 3 is connectedwith the section of the rail L in block 1,' the train in block 1 willreceive the danger-signal. At

the same time were a train toenter block 3 it would receive adanger-signal.

'-'-In Fig. 3 is illustrated a slightIlg-modifie'd form of train signalmechanism parts of the train mechanism K and'the relation thereof to thetrack and track equip-' ment shown in Fig. 2 is illustrated. The

correspondilig,vlfith the parts. of the train mechanism K are similarlylettered. In this construction the armature k is equip ed with rods 76which carry danger and c ear signal targets lighted. To enable to thetrain regardless of the direction of movement conductor Z to the otherend of the next section but one of the rail F by Letters Patent,Iisdivided into blocks, of ofblock 2"will be net connected with oneblock, a trackbator semaphoreslc 71: adapted to-re ister with an openingis in a casing k it eing understood that the clear semaphore isexhibited when the safety signal-lamp 7c" is the conductors of themagnets 7c .to be changed when the train reverses its direction, theconductor is is provided with a switch 76 whichis connected by a 'rod kwith the reversing-lever 7c of the locomotive. The contact member 7c isadapted to be brought into contact with either one of a pair of contactmembers is k", which are connected, respectively, by conductors 7c 7:with shoes or brushes la la, contacting with the rails F and L. FromFig. 2it will be understood that when a train is moving in the directionopposite the direc tion of the arrow it is necessary that the con-.ductor 7c be connected with the rail L. This is accomplished when atrain backs up by the shifting of the switch 71: through the me dium ofthe reversinglever of the locomotive.

For clearness of understandin the batteries D are designatedtrackatteries, and the function of each track-battery is to energize ahigh-resistance magnet and a lowresistancemagnet, andthe batteries G aredesignated signal-controlling batteries,- whose pole-changersarecontrolled by the magnets E and D'( As has been indicated, eachsignal-controlling battery is connected with the rails and'formstherewith a local partial circuit through whose medium the signals onthe train are operated;

It is noted that the rails metrically arranged with reference to thetrack, so that upon turning a locomotive F-and L-are-symabout theconductors thereof have theirshoes shifted from one rail to the other.

What I regard as new, and desire to secure 1 1. Th'e'combination withrails electrically a high-resistance electromagnet .and a low-resistanceelectromagsaid magnets, a

local signal-controllin with an adjacent bloc with. a local partialcircuit, a pole-changer controlling the circuit of said. si trollingbattery and controlled by both of said electromagnets, and train-carriedsignal mechanism having a to complete the loca partial circuit. as thetrain passes over the .same. 2. The combination with rails electricallydivided into blocks, of a high-resistance electromagnet-andalow-resistance electromagnet located adj'acent'toeach other .andconnected withoppo siteends of one block, atrack-bat terynormallyenerizingsaid, magnets, a local si nal-controlling battery connected with ana jacent block and forming therewith alocal partial circuit, 'apole-changer controlling the and. forming thereartial circuit adaptedcircuit a said 81 al controlling battery,

armature contro ed by both of said elec tromagnets and connectedwithsaid pole changer, and train-carried signal mechanism? having apartial circuit adapted to-complete' the local partial circuit as atrain passes over the same. I a

. 3. The combination with railsjelcctrically divided into blocks, of 'ahigh-resistance elec-' tromagne't and a low-resistance" electromagnetconnected'with one blockfnear oppos iteends, of 'tIiesame', atrack-'battery normally train energizing said magnets, allocalsignal-0on v and the other ends fgone block, a track-battery normally"ener" said electrom'a etsfa-signal-controlling battery connectedwith'an adjacent block and forming therewith a local partial circuit apole-changer controlling the circuit of said signal-controlling batteryand con trolled by both said 'electromagnets, means for throwing saidpole-changer "to a neutral osition in the event of 5 denergization ofothfsaidjm'agnets, and train carriedsignal mechanism havin a artlalcircuit adapted to complete the oca partial circuitas theasses over thesame,'said traincarried signa mechamsm having a circuit-controllingmember adapted to assume a neutral osition in the event of the failureof current om the local signal-controllin battery.

\ battery normally energizingsaid magnets, a

deenergization of both ofsaid electromagnets;

controlling the circuit of said sigp o prising clear I j cults, apolarized armature controlling said 45 4. The combination with ra' anelectrically divided intoblocks, ofa high-resistance electromagnet and alow resistance electro- *magnet connectedwith'one block, a tracklocalsignal controlling battery connected with an adjacent block and formingtherewith a local partial circuit, a pole-changer- *-controlling batteryand controlled by .th of said electromagnets, means for moving thepoleehanger to a neutral positionin the event of and train-carriedsignal mechanism comand danger signals having c1r circuits, means formoving said armature to a neutral position, and electromagnets controlling said polarized armature and having a partial circuit adapted tocomplete the local partial circuit as the train passes over the same. i

I 5. The combination with a air of trackrails, one of which iselectrical y continuous and the other electrically divided into blocks,of a high-resiistanceelectroma et connected with both track-rails in oneb ock, a low-resistance electromagnet connected with both track-rails inthe saine block, a track-battery normally energi said electroma ets, athird rail electrical y divided into b ocks, a local signal controllinbattery connected with said continuous rail and with said third rail inan adjacent block and forming therewith a local. partial circuit, aole-changer controlling said local partial circuit and consaidelectromagnets,

- of track- -connected.-with the track-rails nearopposite;

having a par trollmg'battery .connecte with the continucus -ra land-.withthe; third-rail of. anadjacentblockandformingtherewithalocalpartia'l-circuit, apole-changer;controlling said local'partial circuitand controlled byboth of conductors joining one set of (ended the sections of thethirdrail with the other'f'set of ends of alternate sections of the fourthrail, and train-carried signal mechanism having a partial circuitadapted to be completed through said local partial circuit as thetrain'passesover the "same, i

,7. The combination with a air. of trackrails, one of which. iselectrical y continuous and the other electrically divided intoblocks,

of a third and'fourth rail both electrically divided into blocks, ahigh-resistance electromagnet and a low-resistance electromagnetconnected with the track-rails nearopposite ends of one block, atrack-battery normallyenergizing said electroma ets, a signal-controbattery connecte with, the continuous, ra' and with the third rail of anadjacent block and forming therewith a local artial circuit, apole-changer controlling sai local I partial circuit and controlledbyboth of said ,electromagnets, conductors joining one set of ends ofthe'sections of the third rail with the other set of ends of alternatesections of the fourth rail and traincarried signal mechanism comprisingling said last-named circuits and having railenga'gi'ng conductors, oneof said conductors bemg: equipped with .a switch and with two term nasengaging said third and fourth 1 I a a. 7 n5 7 rails. s

1 8. Train-carried signal mechanism of-the character described, comrising'iclear and danger lights provided with 'electric'circuits, anarmature controlling said.'circuits, a plate provided with asight-opening, clear and danger semaphores mounted on'said'armature'land adapted to be presented atsaid sight-opening,andelectromagnets controlling said armature and ha' a partial circuitadapted to be completedt ough a local parv tial circuit; j

W BRITTON LANE.

In presence of- L. HEISLAR,

trolled by both of sa d electromagnets, and

J H. LANDES.

clear and danger signals, cir-. cuits forthe same, electromagnetscontrol- "poo

